Simple Magnetism
 

Hi,
Just got a quick and easy question for u guys.With regards to basic principles of magnetism,is the "north seeking pole" classed as red or blue? My oxford books for g nav and instruments both say north is red,whereas both BGS and PPSC material that i have seen say north is blue! A fairly trivial question i know,but it could cost us!

Cheers

PP

Hi,

It is the north seeking end of the magnet that is the south pole of the magnet and it is red and it will point north. The north pole of the magnet is blue and that will be pointing south.

Thanks for your help Ck i hadn't even considered that! (Worryingly)

PP

Actually, near the geographic north pole we can find the magnetic south pole, and near the geographic south pole we can find the magnetic north pole. So it is just the opposite.

That means the "geographic north" seeking end of the compass must be the magnetic north pole of this little magnet in your compass, because opposite ends will attract each other.

In my opinion the magnetic north pole is red and the other is blue, green, or whatever.

Hold on, why are these colours so important in refering to poles?

arent they there just for the sake of illustration?